[tranck]

Hi all - my car has 33K miles - service indicator is on and my tech said that spark plugs should be changed.

I was skeptical - he said something about the N55 is a high performance engine and being a turbo that the plugs might be pretty degraded at this mileage.

I *do* get on the car fairly often but have never tracked it and these miles are 95% highway.

Thoughts?

[DanG]

Spark plugs are cheap. Go change them.

[ZM2]

Dealer changed mine at 23k miles for free.

[PackPride85]

Originally Posted by ZM2

Dealer changed mine at 23k miles for free.

Same here. I think the service manual calls for them to be replaced every 25-30k miles.

They are $100-$130 for 6 OEM online depending on website.

[wacobipe]

I think you are likely due for a change. Mike Miller in his “old School Maintenance Manual” (Tech Talk, BMW Roundel Magazine) suggests turbo engines the interval should be 45,000, with some techs recommending every 30,000...so 33k on an M engine is not out of line.

He also states to stay away from platinum plugs in BMWs for which they are not the factory- recommended spark plugs. These don’t last as long as the regular Bosch copper or silver plugs and NGK plus, and have been known to fail.

[M Fifty]

Originally Posted by wacobipe

I think you are likely due for a change. Mike Miller in his “old School Maintenance Manual” (Tech Talk, BMW Roundel Magazine) suggests turbo engines the interval should be 45,000, with some techs recommending every 30,000...so 33k on an M engine is not out of line.

He also states to stay away from platinum plugs in BMWs for which they are not the factory- recommended spark plugs. These don’t last as long as the regular Bosch copper or silver plugs and NGK plus, and have been known to fail.

Interestingly, the Bosch plug specified by BMW for the M2 is from their Double Platinum range - the ZMR5TPP330

[F87source]

Originally Posted by M Fifty

Interestingly, the Bosch plug specified by BMW for the M2 is from their Double Platinum range - the ZMR5TPP330

Yeah that's what worries me because I'm the guide that suggestion is from is way too old and refers to old tech misconceptions that is outdated. Plus BMWs are turbo now and more electronically controlled so alot has changed.

[tranck]

So fwiw, I just had them changed - my BMW dealer tech said that they looked pretty good in his opinion showing me some deposits that were likely caused by gasoline additives.

He suggested that I should go at around 50K intervals in the future.

But one of the reasons that I did change them - at start-up idle, I detected a "miss" occasionally - did not throw a CEL but now after the change - no "miss" at start-up idle.

[M Fifty]

Originally Posted by F87source

Yeah that's what worries me because I'm the guide that suggestion is from is way too old and refers to old tech misconceptions that is outdated. Plus BMWs are turbo now and more electronically controlled so alot has changed.

Just went and checked the plugs from my 2002 E46 330ci: NGK BKR6EQUP. So a normally aspirated BMW engine with Platinum plugs

I replaced them about 15k miles ago with same, as according to the service records they hadn't been changed for over a decade (and +60k miles...). Both the centre and surrounding electrodes had some significant erosion, but the car ran well and the colour looked good.

[LadyBMX]

I also have a 2019 BMW M2 Comp that I purchased used.. I took it to the dealer for an oil change and they are telling me I need to change the spark plugs. I only have 20K miles. Since I did purchased the car used, I dont have any warranty. Is there a recommendation of when the spark plugs should be changed?

[nioh_lbbm2]

Originally Posted by LadyBMX

I also have a 2019 BMW M2 Comp that I purchased used.. I took it to the dealer for an oil change and they are telling me I need to change the spark plugs. I only have 20K miles. Since I did purchased the car used, I dont have any warranty. Is there a recommendation of when the spark plugs should be changed?

did you even read the 2 year old thread you commented on and resurrected?

[shaneguags]

as for stock cars I would change them with OEM plugs every 30k milage or earlier depending if you drive the car hard on a track. as for any tuned, fbo, or big turbo cars, I would recommend using NGK 1 step colder plugs and changing them every 15k milage. I would also recommend changing your plugs and ignition coils at the same time to make it easier to remember and to reduce maintenance issues

[Tes]

Dealer changed my spark plugs under warranty this year on my 2018 MY. I was only at 13,000 kms and they said I was due for a change. I'm pretty sure it was cause it was 3 years not my mileage. But I was pretty surprised it was due all ready.

[Rykken]

Hey, I'm a new owner for an 2018 and I bought the car at 30k miles, would I need to ask the original dealership if they had done the spark plugs?

[F87source]

Originally Posted by Rykken

Hey, I'm a new owner for an 2018 and I bought the car at 30k miles, would I need to ask the original dealership if they had done the spark plugs?

Just ask for a full print out of the vehicle's service history, that will give you all the records.

But if it were me buying a used car, I would literally change every fluid in the car, every filter, every spark plug, and literally every serviceable item (belts, brake pads + clips and pins, etc) so I could get a fresh start.

[Rykken]

Originally Posted by F87source

Just ask for a full print out of the vehicle's service history, that will give you all the records.

But if it were me buying a used car, I would literally change every fluid in the car, every filter, every spark plug, and literally every serviceable item (belts, brake pads + clips and pins, etc) so I could get a fresh start.

Ok got it, yeah I don't know why I didn't ask for in the beginning when I was buying the car. Thanks!

[F87source]

Originally Posted by Rykken

Ok got it, yeah I don't know why I didn't ask for in the beginning when I was buying the car. Thanks!

No problem.